Let Them See You Succeed…!

 Does a Parent Need to Die for a Child to Rise? An Ode to Dreams Fulfilled After Loss…

By Dr Sunil S Rana

In my journey through life and my deep observation of people and their destinies, a poignant question has often echoed in my heart- “Why does it take the death of a father or mother for their child to awaken and achieve something extraordinary?”

I say this not as a philosophical musing, but from real, hard-hitting examples that I’ve personally witnessed. There are countless instances where parents spend their lives nurturing a dream - not for themselves, but for their children. And fate, in its most mysterious way, takes them away - just before that dream is realized. The child, struck by grief, somehow transforms that very pain into purpose.

One such incident that remains etched deep in my heart is that of ACP Rajbir Singh of Delhi Police - a brave and dynamic officer who was known for his fearless service and sharp policing. I still remember the day the news broke: Rajbir Singh had been shot dead by a property dealer in Gurgaon. He was a man who had fought criminals all his life, but destiny took a tragic turn in an unexpected place.

At that time, his son Rohit Singh was just around 15 or 16 years old. He was a young boy, suddenly thrown into the dark abyss of loss - the kind of loss that crushes childhood in an instant. But Rohit did not let that pain consume him. Instead, he channelled it. He took a pledge - not just to honour his father’s legacy, but to continue it.

Years passed, and that young boy emerged stronger, wiser, and deeply driven. And with incredible dedication, Rohit cracked the UPSC Civil Services Exam and became an IPS officer. He didn’t just wear the same uniform as his father - he wore his father’s dream on his shoulder.

This story isn’t just about one boy or one family. I’ve seen this pattern in many homes - a mother working tirelessly, holding on to the dream of her daughter becoming a bureaucrat… and when she’s gone, the daughter suddenly finds herself fueled by an inner fire, a divine calling almost, to not let her mother’s wishes go in vain.

It makes me ask:

Why does death shake us more than life? Why do we often awaken only when the one who believed in us is no longer around to watch us shine?

I don’t have a perfect answer, but I know this - grief transforms.

Where comfort sometimes makes us complacent, pain makes us powerful.

It clarifies priorities. It sharpens willpower. And it adds meaning to success.

A Message to UPSC Aspirants

To all those preparing for the UPSC - don’t wait for tragedy to strike before you rise. Let love, not loss, fuel your purpose.

If your parents are with you today, don’t just make them proud after they are gone - make them proud now. Sit with them. Understand what sacrifices they’ve made for you. Let their struggles be your strength - not their absence.

And if, God forbid, you’ve lost someone dear - then know this:

You carry their dream within you. And there’s no greater tribute than achieving what they once saw in you, even before you saw it yourself.

In the end, the pen is yours, the destiny is yours, and the dream… is ours to fulfil - in life, not after it.

“Jo beet gaye kal ke sapne the,

Jo aaj hai wahi sach hai,

Aur jo kal hoga… wo aapke iraadon par likha jayega.”

Let’s not wait for life to become a tragedy before we become its hero.

- Sunil Rana

(With love and respect for every parent who dreamt with open eyes.)